The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies (GES) is to provide students with an understanding of the discipline of geography. This includes courses in physical, human, and cultural geography, as well as methods courses that provide exposure to the various tools and techniques of geographic research.

GES features award-winning faculty with diverse interests that create high-impact learning opportunities for students in inclusive, small-group settings, both inside and outside the classroom. GES is one of UCCS’ ‘Unique and High-Need Programs.’ GES offers minors in GES, Geology, and Sustainability, and a certificate in GIScience. Program faculty offer a range of diverse research interests and run four on-campus labs.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography and Environmental Studies requires the following:

• A minimum of 41 credit hours of GES coursework. At least 18 of those hours must be upper division (courses numbered 3000 or higher).
• A grade of C- or better in courses applied to the major.
• A minimum 2.0 GPA must be maintained in all GES course work.
• No more than 60 credit hours of GES course work may apply to the bachelor’s degree.

GES majors must take 41 credit hours of GES courses - 21 must be upper-division.

Note: Digital Earth (GES 2050) is the least rigorous of the three courses that satisfy the geospatial requirement and as such is the recommended option for students who are not planning to earn the GIScience Certificate and who are not necessarily interested in incorporating geospatial technologies into their career.

For additional details regarding program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Undergraduate Minors:

• GES 
• Geology 
• Sustainability

Undergraduate Certificates:

• GIScience

Within the undergraduate program, students have the opportunity to participate in an internship program through the UCCS Office of Sustainability. This distinctive program offers students a semester-long service project internship, which proves to be both enriching and rewarding. To learn more, please visit the Internship page.

GES offers honors for students who have demonstrated high academic achievement. In order to be considered for departmental honors, a student must:

• have an overall CU GPA of 3.0 or better
• have a 3.5 or better GPA in GES courses
• have a research proposal approved by a GES faculty advisor and select a committee of two other faculty
• enroll in GES 4970 (Honors in Geography)
• complete an oral exam on a research project

The level of honors will be decided by committee after the completion of the requirements. Three levels of honors are available: Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction.